Police: Scituate teen who shot himself stole gun from Norwell home of a friend

Wednesday

Aug 26, 2009 at 12:01 AMAug 26, 2009 at 11:42 PM

Kaitlin Keane

The gun a Scituate teen used to shoot himself in the leg last week was in a safe that was stolen from a friend’s father, police said.

The 16-year-old gunshot victim, whose name has not been disclosed because he is a juvenile, allegedly stole the gun from a Norwell home with William Rafferty, 18, of Scituate.

The gun, a 1985 Smith & Wesson .38-caliber snub-nose revolver that was kept in a safe, belonged to the girl’s father, who was out of town.

When the man returned Thursday night, he noticed that the door to his home was open, but he did not notice that the safe was missing until Friday morning. He reported the theft to Norwell police on Friday, just as they received reports from Scituate about the shooting.

Police allege that Rafferty and the teen visited the girl’s house on Tuesday night and stole the safe while she was asleep.

They then brought the gun to Rafferty’s house, at 32 Amy’s Way in Scituate, where police say they played a game of Russian roulette that led to the 16-year-old shooting himself in the leg on Thursday night.

Police said Rafferty and his mother, Louellyn Lambros, 55, then lied to about what happened and concocted a story about an intruder who shot the teen outside their home.

Rafferty and Lambros are facing charges, including filing a false police report and being an accessory to a felony after the fact. The teen victim, who is recovering after surgery on his injured leg, will likely face charges in Scituate.

Norwell police said they will charge Rafferty and the teen victim with larceny from a building, larceny of a firearm and larceny over $250.

Rafferty is being held in the Plymouth County House of Correction on the Scituate charges.

Kaitlin Keane may be reached at kkeane@ledger.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.